Help for individuals and families
Last updated April 28, 2023 at 12:26 PM
If you’ve been financially affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for:
- Paid sick leave
- Healthcare and health insurance
- Benefits for families with children
- Tax credits
- More help
Paid sick leave and other benefits
Paid sick and family leave
You may be eligible for paid sick or family leave if you cannot work because you’re:
- Sick or quarantined due to COVID-19
- Caring for a family member who is sick or quarantined due to COVID-19
- Experiencing vaccine-related side effects
You may also be eligible to use paid sick leave to go to your vaccination appointment.
Supplemental paid sick leave
California’s 2022 COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) provides up to 40 hours if you’re:
- Sick or quarantined
- Getting vaccinated or boosted
- Caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed
The 2022 SPSL also provides up to 40 more hours if you:
- Test positive for COVID-19
- Are caring for a family member that tests positive for COVID-19
The 2022 SPSL is available from January 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022. Find details in the FAQs about 2022 SPSL from the California Department of Industrial Relations.
More paid leave info
Visit California’s Safer At Work website to:
- Find more information about paid sick leave options
- Use the sick leave navigator to find leave that fits your situation
Learn more about paid leave options:
- Information about paid sick leave options
- Benefits for workers impacted by COVID-19
- Compare paid sick and family leave options
- Check if you may be eligible for paid family leave
Disability insurance
You may be eligible for disability insurance if you cannot work due to, or are recovering from, COVID-19 illness.
Workers’ compensation
Consider filing a workers’ compensation claim if you:
- Were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace and test positive
- Are unable to work due to COVID-19 symptoms
Job-protected leave and reasonable accommodation
Check the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s FAQs to learn about:
- Job-protected unpaid leave (page 5)
- Reasonable accommodation for a disability due to COVID-19 (pages 5-7)
Exclusion pay
Employers must provide you with exclusion pay:
- When you’re excluded from the workplace due to exposure that occurred at work
- For the days you would have worked during the exclusion period
- That is the same as your regular rate of pay
- To you no later than the regular payday for the pay period
Healthcare and health insurance
Community health clinics
Community health centers and clinics offer free or low-cost medical services. Find a health center in your area.
Health insurance
Get free or low-cost health insurance through Covered California.
If you received unemployment insurance, you may be able to get health insurance for as low as $1 per month.
All plans cover treatment and vaccines for COVID-19.
How to apply
Covered California and Medi-Cal use the same application. You can submit one application to find out which programs you qualify for.
Apply for Covered California. For free and confidential help, call 800-300-1506 (M-F, 8 am to 6 pm).
Benefits for families with children
CalWORKs cash aid
Families with children may be eligible for cash aid through the CalWORKs program. Families that qualify get monthly cash aid to help pay for housing, food, clothing, and more.
Families that have little cash on hand may qualify. It also depends on other factors like:
- Citizenship
- Age
- Income
- Assets
Families that have little or no cash can receive up to $200 immediately if they have a family emergency like:
- No food, essential clothing, or place to stay
- Urgent medical needs
Apply at BenefitsCal or contact the social services agency in your county.
Childcare
Find out if you qualify for help paying for childcare. You can also call 1-800-KIDS-793. Visit mychildcare.ca.gov to find a provider in your area.
Tax credits
State tax credits are available to working Californians. This includes undocumented workers. There are also tax credits if you have children.
California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
If you’re working for a low wage, you may qualify for the CalEITC.
You’re eligible to claim the CalEITC if you made less than $30,000 in 2021, and you:
- Are age 18 or older, or
- Have a qualifying dependent, even if you’re under 18.
If you qualify, you could:
- Get more money back in your tax refund, or
- Owe less in taxes.
The amount you can get depends on:
- How much you earned
- The size of your family
Individuals can get up to $255. If you have one child, you can get up to $1,698. Larger families qualify for more.
Claiming the CalEITC does not:
- Affect other benefits you might receive
- Prevent you from qualifying for other benefits
- Impact your immigration status
Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC)
You may qualify for the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) of up to $1,000 if you:
- Qualified for CalEITC, and
- Have a child that was under age 6 on December 31, 2021.
If you qualify, you could get a bigger tax refund or a reduced tax bill.
How to get these tax credits
You must file your state tax return to claim both the CalEITC and the YCTC. File your taxes online for free.
If you do not have a Social Security Number, file your taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Find out more about ITINs and how you can get one.
More help
Rent and utilities relief
Get help paying your rent and utility bills.
Food
Several programs provide free food, including if you need it now.
Homelessness
Find a contact in your area for help.
Mortgage relief
Get help paying your mortgage if you’re behind on payments.
Funeral costs
Get financial help for COVID-19-related funeral expenses.
Unemployment insurance
Find out what you’re eligible for and how to apply.